The sun hung lazily in the sky, its golden rays casting long shadows over the quiet town of Wellwood. A gentle breeze swept through the park, rustling the leaves of the towering oaks that lined the cobblestone paths.
Children's laughter echoed from the playground nearby, a stark contrast to the stillness that surrounded me as I sat on a weathered wooden bench in the heart of town.
I absently spun the crimson ring around my finger, watching as the metal gleamed in the daylight. Ever since Jasper had given it to me, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to it than just a simple gift from Xaviar. I had my suspicions, but after yesterday's training, I was almost certain—I was being limited.
A frown tugged at my lips as I recalled what happened the day before. After slipping away from the house to train in the outskirts of town, I had expected the same struggle as always—the overwhelming surge of my matter, the painful resistance of my own body as it tried to contain something too vast, too unstable. But yesterday… yesterday had been different.
As soon as I activated my matter, a surge of energy rushed through me, but it was controlled, refined. No violent spasms, no erratic bursts of power threatening to consume me. Instead, my body moved with precision.
Dark tendrils of crackling energy licked at my skin, the air around me humming with an almost mystical aura. The power still carried that eerie, weightless presence—like a void pressing in on itself—but this time, it obeyed me.
I had struck a tree with a simple swing of my arm, and the force behind it had split the trunk clean in half. No loss of control, no backlash, just raw, directed strength. For the first time since awakening my matter, it hadn't felt like I was fighting against myself.
My gaze dropped back down to the ring.
It was no coincidence.
I exhaled sharply, leaning back against the bench. "So that's what this is," I muttered under my breath. A limiter. Xaviar knows without it, my matter will cause a lot of trouble for me during the trials. The realization should've been a relief, but instead, unease settled in my chest.
I flexed my fingers, feeling the weight of the ring like a chain around my wrist. There was comfort in the stability it provided, but at the same time, a small part of me bristled at the idea of being restrained.
Closing my eyes, letting the sounds of the park fill the silence in my mind. The chirping of birds, the distant chatter of people passing by, the occasional creak of the swing set
It had been two days since Aiken showed up.
As I sat on the bench, absently rolling the ring between my fingers, my gaze shifted to the side. Aiken, Yui, and Mom were walking back toward me, their conversation lighthearted and easy. Yui was animated as always, waving her hands around as she talked about something, while Aiken smirked and teased her about it. Mom, with her warm, patient smile, listened to them both, adding in the occasional word.
Seeing them together like that, it was… nice. Aiken and Yui hadn't been around each other in so long, and yet they fell right back into place, like nothing had changed. Sisters.
I exhaled softly, resting my forearms on my knees. It should've felt the same with—
I stopped the thought before it fully surfaced, clicking my tongue as I looked away
As they reached me, Yui grinned and held something out toward me.
"Here, take it," she said, her tone oddly proud.
I glanced down at her open palm to see a small flower—a simple blue one, its petals slightly curled at the edges. I raised a brow.
"...A flower?"
"Not just any flower," she corrected, puffing out her chest. "I found it all on my own. It's rare."
Aiken snorted. "It's not rare. Those grow all over the place."
Yui shot her a glare. "Shut up. Kin doesn't know that."
I smirked, taking the flower from her hand and twirling it between my fingers. "So what, you're just handing these out to people now?"
"Nope," Yui said with a satisfied grin. "Just you."
I gave her a look. "...Should I be worried?"
Mom smiled warmly but shook her head. "It's good to see you three like this again," she said. "It's been far too long since we've all been together."
Not all of us...
Yui crossed her arms. "Yeah, well, someone took forever to come back home." She shot a look at Aiken. "Too busy running around with all those Ethereal Knights!"
Aiken grinned. "Well I'm an upcoming Ethereal Knight myself yk."
"Not a good one"
I lowered my gaze slightly, still twirling the flower between my fingers.
"Speaking of that," Mom said gently, her eyes settling on me. "We were just talking about you and Aiken leaving for the capital tomorrow."
I glanced up at her. "Oh."
Aiken stretched her arms behind her head. "Yup. Early morning, too, so you better get a good night's sleep, kid."
Yui frowned, suddenly much less playful. "I still don't get why Kin has to leave," she muttered, her voice quieter. "Why can't he just take the trials here?"
Mom sighed. "You know that's not how it works, sweetheart."
Yui huffed and kicked at a loose pebble. "It's stupid."
I glanced at her. "You'll be fine without me, you know."
She scoffed. "That's not the point."
Aiken, sensing the slight shift in mood, clapped a hand on my shoulder. "Come on, don't look so grim about it. It's been six years since you've been there." Her voice was light, but there was something just beneath the surface of it. "I'm sure you'll enjoy it again."
My fingers stopped twirling the flower.
Six years since we left the capital. Six years since...
I clenched the flower slightly in my hand.
Exhaling slowly, I stood up from the bench, slipping the crimson ring into my pocket. The cool metal pressed against my fingertips, a small but constant reminder of what was coming.
Tomorrow morning, Aiken and I would be leaving Wellwood, heading back to Central Rivenden for the first time in six years. We'd be taking the train—the same way Aiken had arrived a couple of days ago. She had mentioned how smooth the ride was, but fifteen hours was still fifteen hours. I wasn't looking forward to being stuck in a moving box with nothing but my thoughts to keep me company.
I shoved my hands into my pockets, glancing up at the sky as if the answer to all my unease was hidden somewhere between the drifting clouds.
Six years.
Aiken said I'd enjoy it again. Like it was just another place, just another city I was returning to. But I could barely remember what it had been like to live there. The people, the streets, the sounds of the capital—everything was hazy, like a dream I had woken up from too soon. There were glimpses, flashes of voices and laughter, but I couldn't put names or faces to them.
**
The streets of Wellwood were quiet as I made my way through the familiar pathways. The sun had started to dip lower, casting long shadows across the buildings. Eventually, I arrived at a small shop nestled between larger structures.
It was unassuming from the outside—just another smithing shop where people could get their tools repaired or weapons forged. But to me, it was more than that.
The moment I stepped inside, the scent of burning coal and freshly worked metal hit me. The warmth of the forge still lingered in the air, and the faint sound of clinking metal echoed from somewhere deeper in the shop.
Weapons lined the walls—swords, daggers, polearms—all polished to perfection. Heavy armor pieces sat neatly on racks, and workbenches were stacked with various tools and half-finished projects.
At the front counter stood Igon.
His once dark hair had faded almost completely to gray, and deep wrinkles framed his sharp blue eyes. Despite his age, he was still built like a man who worked the forge daily—broad shoulders, calloused hands, and an air of quiet strength.
The moment he looked up and saw me, a grin stretched across his face.
"Well, well, look who finally decided to show up," Igon said, setting down a hammer with a solid thunk.
"Bout time, kid. Thought ya might've forgotten ol' Igon existed." His voice carried that familiar roughness, laced with an accent that always made him sound like he belonged on a ship rather than in a forge.
I smirked as I stepped closer. "Been busy."
"Busy, huh?" He scoffed, crossing his arms. "Ya mean wanderin' 'round town lookin' like a lost pup?"
I rolled my eyes. "I'm not sulking Igon."
Igon let out a deep chuckle. "Right, sure. And I'm the bloody King of Rivenden." He grabbed a cloth from under the counter, wiped his hands off, then tossed it aside. "Heard ya leavin' tomorrow."
I nodded. "Yeah. Taking the train with Aiken."
He grunted in acknowledgment, then leaned against the counter. "Y'know, I still remember when ya first waddled into this shop. Tiny little thing, barely big enough to hold a sword, but always eyein' the blades like ya were plannin' to run off with one."
I smirked. "Still am."
He snorted. "Ain't gettin' one for free, I'll tell ya that much."
I chuckled, shaking my head.
His expression softened just a little. "You've come a long way, kid. Trials ain't gonna be a walk in the park, but you'll manage. You got that fire in ya."
I didn't say anything at first, just gave him a small nod.
Igon exhaled, pushing off the counter. "Well, go on then. Xaviar's been waitin' on ya in the back."
I raised a brow. "Of course, he has."
He smirked. "Aye, ya know how he is. Man's got the patience of a saint—'til he don't."
I nodded before making my way toward the back door.
The hallway was dimly lit, the wooden walls lined with various weapons and tools that had long since been put out of commission. The faint scent of burning metal lingered in the air, a constant reminder of the forge beyond the shop. As I made my way down the hall, my footsteps barely made a sound against the worn floorboards.
Reaching the end of the corridor, I placed my hand on the wooden door and pushed it open.
Inside, the room was tidy, with shelves lined with scrolls, ledgers, and a few neatly placed weapons hanging on the walls. But my attention was immediately drawn to the man standing near the center of the room.
Xaviar.
He was tall and lean, his presence commanding yet oddly relaxed at the same time. His wheat-colored hair was short and messy, slightly tousled as if he hadn't bothered to fix it properly. He wore a sleek black vest that fit snugly over a crisp white long-sleeved collared shirt, paired with black suit pants that completed the polished yet effortlessly put-together look.
His light brown eyes shimmered under the lantern's glow, sharp yet carrying an undeniable ease.
Despite his relatively young age—only thirty-four—Xaviar wasn't just some ordinary figure. He was an ex-member of the Tenfold Circle, a title that once placed him among the ten strongest Ethereal Knights of Rivenden, those who worked directly under the King himself.
But right now, none of that weight seemed to hang over him. Instead, he carried himself with a balance of seriousness and laid-back confidence, as if the world around him moved just a little slower in his presence.
The moment his gaze landed on me, he smirked.
"Took your time getting here," Xaviar said, his voice smooth yet firm. "I was beginning to think you got lost."
I shrugged, leaning slightly against the doorframe. "Figured I'd spend time with my family before heading over."
Xaviar nodded slightly, his smirk fading just a little. "Not a bad call."
I stepped further into the room, reaching into my pocket and pulling out the crimson ring. The metal was cool against my fingers, its surface smooth except for the faint etchings of unfamiliar markings along the inner band. I turned it over between my fingers before glancing back up at Xaviar.
"So," I started, "this thing… it really is a limiter, right?"
Xaviar folded his arms across his chest and gave a slow nod. "Yeah, it is."
I frowned slightly. "That means my power's being suppressed?"
"More like stabilized," Xaviar corrected, stepping toward one of the shelves and idly picking up a small, old-looking book. He didn't open it, just ran his fingers along the worn leather binding before placing it back.
"Your control over your Matter is… let's just say, unreliable at best right now. If you entered the Trials without something keeping you steady, you'd struggle more than you'd think."
I furrowed my brows, gripping the ring a little tighter. "And that matters because…?"
Xaviar turned back to me, raising an eyebrow. "Because the Ascension Trials are more than just some simple test of strength."
I stayed quiet, waiting for him to elaborate.
"The Trials are split into multiple sections," Xaviar explained, pacing slightly as he spoke. "Each section is designed to test a specific aspect of an individual. Physical endurance, combat skills, strategic thinking—every trial is meant to push you and see what kind of Ethereal Knight you have the potential to become."
I listened carefully, letting his words sink in.
"But," Xaviar continued, "one of the most important parts of the Trials—the part that determines your place among those trying to become Knights—is the Matter Ranking."
Xaviar leaned against the desk, crossing his ankles. "The Matter Ranking is a system that evaluates not just how powerful your Matter is, but also how well you can control and utilize it. It places you into a rank based on your mastery, adaptability, and raw ability. And let's be honest, Kin…" His light brown eyes locked onto mine. "Right now, you'd rank pretty damn low."
I exhaled sharply through my nose. "Gee, thanks for the confidence boost."
Xaviar smirked. "Just being real with you. Your Matter is powerful—dangerously so—but power without control is as good as nothing in the Trials. You'd either burn yourself out or lose control mid-ranking, and that'd make you look way worse than you actually are."
I stared down at the ring again.
"So the limiter is to keep me from screwing myself over?" I muttered.
"Exactly," Xaviar confirmed. "It's not there to hold you back—it's there to make sure you don't self-destruct."
I turned the ring over between my fingers again, considering his words. "Isn't that… kinda cheating?"
Xaviar shook his head. "Not at all. The ring doesn't enhance your power or give you an advantage over anyone else. It just makes sure you're operating at a level you can actually control. Think of it like a weight on a wild horse—it's not stopping it from running, just keeping it from throwing itself off a cliff."
I let out a small breath, rolling the ring in my palm.
It made sense. The last thing I wanted was to completely lose control in the middle of the Trials. Still, something about it didn't sit right with me. Maybe it was the idea that, even now, I needed something to hold me together.
Xaviar must've caught on to my hesitation because he sighed and pushed himself off the desk. "Look, Kin. If you really don't want to use it, no one's forcing you. But if you ask me, having some control over yourself is a hell of a lot better than the alternative."
I closed my fingers around the ring and exhaled slowly.
"…Yeah," I muttered. "I get it."
Xaviar clapped his hands together. "Good. Now that we've got that settled, let's talk about what comes next."
I slid the ring back into my pocket and crossed my arms. "Alright," I said, glancing up at Xaviar.
Xaviar rolled his shoulders, as if shaking off the seriousness from before. "Well, since you're actually listening for once, I'll give you the full rundown."
I scoffed. "I listen all the time."
Xaviar gave me a look. "You have selective hearing, kid. There's a difference."
I smirked slightly but said nothing.
Xaviar leaned back against the desk again, his expression turning more thoughtful. "Like I said, the Ascension Trials aren't just about how strong you are. The first section is going to focus on combat endurance—your ability to keep fighting under pressure."
I nodded. "Makes sense."
"That part's straightforward. You'll be fighting a series of opponents, each one stronger than the last, until you either win or can't continue. The point isn't just to see how many you can beat, but to gauge how well you handle prolonged battles."
I frowned slightly, already thinking of how that might go. My stamina wasn't bad, but if I had to fight multiple people back-to-back…
Xaviar watched my expression before continuing. "The second section is different. It's a strategy-based challenge."
I raised an eyebrow. "Strategy?"
"Yeah," he said. "It's designed to test how well you think under pressure. Some people are strong but can't plan ahead to save their lives. Others are weak but smart enough to outmaneuver their opponents. This section will put you in a scenario where you have to figure out the best course of action. Could be a simulated battle, a puzzle, maybe even a survival test. They like to switch it up."
"Great," I muttered.
Xaviar smirked. "It only gets harder from there."
I exhaled. "Alright. What's after that?"
"The Matter Ranking," Xaviar said, his tone growing serious again. "It's the most critical part of the Trials. It determines not just if you pass, but where you rank among the other candidates. The higher your ranking, the better your chances at earning a strong placement."
"This section is… intense," Xaviar admitted. "They push your Matter to its absolute limit. You'll be tested on control, adaptability, and raw output. It's not just about showing off—it's about proving you can handle what you have... If they deem that you're unstable then say goodbye to becoming an Knight."
I let out a slow breath.
Great.
I already knew my control wasn't perfect. But hearing it laid out like that—hearing that it could actually cost me my place in the Trials—made the weight on my shoulders feel even heavier.
"Is that all?" I asked, my voice quieter than before.
Xaviar studied me for a moment, then shook his head. "No. There's one more part."
I lifted my gaze. "What?"
Xaviar crossed his arms. "The Final Test."
I frowned. "What is it?"
"No one knows," Xaviar said simply. "It changes every time. It's designed to challenge the candidates in a way they aren't prepared for."
I narrowed my eyes. "That sounds… vague."
"That's the point," Xaviar said with a small smirk. "It's a wildcard. It could be anything—a one-on-one battle, a team mission, even a mental challenge. The King and the Tenfold Circle decide what it is."
I stiffened slightly at the mention of the Tenfold Circle. Even though Xaviar wasn't a part of them anymore, the fact that he had been still carried weight.
"So basically," I muttered, "I have to be ready for anything."
Xaviar nodded. "Exactly."
I exhaled again, running a hand through my hair. "Sounds like a nightmare."
Xaviar chuckled. "Welcome to the path of an Ethereal Knight."
I gave him a dry look. "You really know how to make this sound fun."
Xaviar grinned. "You'll thank me later."
I wasn't so sure about that
Xaviar glanced toward the window, his expression shifting slightly as he watched the golden hues of the setting sun spill into the room. The warm light cast long shadows across the wooden floor, signaling the day's end.
"You should head home," he said, turning back to me. "You've got an early start tomorrow, and the last thing you need is to be half-asleep when the train leaves."
I nodded, pushing myself off the wall. "Yeah, I figured."
I took a step toward the door, but before I could leave, Xaviar spoke again.
"Kin."
I paused, glancing over my shoulder.
His gaze was steady, the usual laid-back attitude giving way to something more serious. "You know you'll be seen as a high target during the Trials, right?"
I frowned slightly. "Because of my Matter?"
Xaviar shook his head. "Because you're the son of Kentaro."
I kept my face neutral, ignoring the way my fingers twitched at my side. "...I know."
Xaviar studied me for a second, then nodded. "Good. Don't let it get to you. Just be ready."
I didn't respond.
With a final nod, I turned and exited the room, making my way back through the shop. Igon was busy helping a customer by the front counter, but he shot me a quick nod of farewell as I stepped outside.
The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of burning wood from a nearby chimney. The streets of Wellwood were quieter now, with only a few people lingering around as the last traces of daylight stretched across the sky.
I looked up, watching the sun dip lower, painting the clouds in shades of orange and deep purple.
My fingers instinctively reached into my pocket, brushing against the smooth surface of the crimson ring.
The son of Kentaro.
I exhaled slowly, my grip tightening around the ring.
My father's face drifted into my mind, unbidden. His voice, his presence—everything about him felt distant, like something I was only allowed to remember in pieces.
And as I stood there, staring at the fading sun, the past began creeping in, pulling me back into a memory I hadn't thought about in years.